1. Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to where you are today?
I hail from the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, and thanks to my love of travel and meeting new people, I found my groove as an airline crew member. I joined LIFT in 2020 after a long innings at Comair. I started as a ground staff crew member when I was just 18 years old. Now 42, I have worked my way from the ground up, quite literally!
I am now a Senior Crew member on board LIFT and have had amazing experiences in the air and on the ground in my 23 years, including being involved in the infamous surprise birth of a baby on King Shaka airbridge last year.
2. Tell us about the work you do and what it involves day to day.
I am a Senior Cabin Crew member who is very passionate about flying. We start off our day with a briefing, get onto the aircraft, and do our security checks. We then make sure that cleaning is done, we sort out catering requirements, board passengers, prepare for take-off, manage our in-flight service, and then we land and repeat the process until we have completed all the flights we were scheduled for. It’s a busy day, but I love every second of it!
3. How long have you been in this industry, and how has it evolved during that time?
I have been in the airline industry for 23 years. Over time, it has evolved into a more flexible schedule. Now the workload is very different from when I first started out, and there is more variety in passenger expectations.
4. What inspired you to pursue this path?
Tourism is in our family, and one of my cousins is a pilot, so naturally, I became curious about what it’s all about.
5. What does it take to thrive as a woman in your industry today?
In order to thrive as a woman in our industry, you need to be able to work under pressure, work flexible hours, and have the ability to set clear boundaries. We also need to be very confident and adapt easily, but most importantly, I’d say we need to have compassion and empathy.
6. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was during COVID-19. I was with Comair for 18 years and saw that there were positions available at LIFT. I had to make a big decision, because I only knew one company, and I was in a comfort zone. I decided to start a new chapter, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work at LIFT, because it’s been such an awesome experience.
7. What advice would you give to other women looking to succeed in your field?
Becoming an air crew member involves adjusting to the industry and a different work environment and schedule. There will be lots of memories and fun, but like everything else in life, there will also be challenging moments. Be patient with the process. It takes a lot of experience, and experience comes with time.
We have such a beautiful work environment, and not everyone gets to work in the sky! Do it with love and don’t lose the passion. Do not just let it be a job; it’s so much more rewarding than that. See the beauty in it. I like to always say, “If you love what you do, you will never have to work a day in your life.”
8. Who are the people in your industry who inspire you most, and why?
Pilots! I could never do what they do. Their job will always amaze me, the ability to keep the plane in the sky. It boggles my mind, and I have so much respect for them.
9. What’s the best piece of advice or wisdom you’ve received from industry peers?
We want to be 50 and look 35; therefore, fabulosity needs to be maintained at all times!
10. How would you describe your leadership style and approach to working with others?
My leadership style is to always make sure that we do what we need to do professionally, but with passion and fun. We must know when to play, but also know when it’s time to work hard and be focused. I have lots of respect for the team, and they award me the same respect. We have a great understanding of one another, and there is always so much we can learn from each other.
11. Have you experienced any setbacks or failures in your journey? What did you take away from those experiences?
COVID-19 hit everyone hard as it was such an unexpected and uncharted territory for everyone. That period taught me to work even harder. I am very business-minded, so I need to use my potential to the fullest.
12. Looking ahead, what are your goals or plans for the future, personally or professionally?
At the moment, I plan to continue to work in the skies with passion, and save for my daughter and my future.
Short bio:
Rukshana Parker hails from the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, and thanks to her love of travel and meeting new people, she found her groove as an airline crew member. Rukshana joined LIFT in 2020 after a long innings at Comair. She started as a ground staff crew member when she was just 18 years old, now 42, Rukshana has worked her way from the ground up, quite literally! She is now a Senior Crew member on board LIFT and has had amazing experiences in the air and on the ground in her 23 years, including being involved in the infamous surprise birth of a baby on King Shaka airbridge last year.
